“The MIL focus is not just to improve the work that I'm doing, but rather the work we as teachers can do together.”


“This program revitalized my career. I formed a new vision for how I can contribute to the educational system.”


“I feel much more confident in the advice I share with my colleagues. I know how to find helpful research and how to organize learning opportunities.”

ABOUT MIL

The MIL program provides a path to teacher leadership for educators who desire to work closely with their teaching peers on instructional problems of practice. At the heart of the MIL program is our belief that schools need equity-driven teacher leaders who can nurture and sustain professional inquiry through dialogue, investigation, reflection, and action.

Our graduates support opportunities for authentic involvement of all educators in creating high quality, equitable learning experiences for students. As members of a tight-knit cohort, MIL students gain the skills, resources and experience to support professional learning, collaborative work culture and ongoing assessment of student learning. In the MIL program, you will learn to:

• Advocate for equitable educational experiences for all students
• Practice inquiry-driven improvement of professional practice
• Lead data-driven assessment of student learning
• Support and lead professional learning communities
• Coach and mentor adult learners
• Deepen instructional expertise in one of the following curricular areas:
  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Social studies
  • Science
  • English language learning
  • Early childhood education
  • Special education

The MIL program is performance based – our graduates learn competent teacher leadership as addressed by the new 2011 National Standards for Teacher Leadership  and the Teacher Leadership Skills Framework    (which was developed in Washington state by the Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession).

Who Become MIL Teacher Leaders?

• Classroom teachers
• Grade level leaders
• District office personnel
• Instructional coaches
• Curriculum specialists
• New teacher mentors
• Assessment coordinators
• Department chairs
• Professional learning community leaders
• Inquiry team members
• Professional development coordinators